2026 Government Shutdown NoticeUpdated 13 days ago

Important Updates for Captain’s Licenses During the Shutdown

May 5, 2026 Update

Funding has been restored for the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. As a result, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are beginning to reopen and return to normal operations. This will happen in phases, so they can focus on the most urgent services first and work through the large backlog of applications and exams caused by the shutdown.

The Application Submission Portal (ASAP) is still open and available for submitting applications and supporting documents.

Applications for merchant mariner credentials (MMCs), medical certificates, and related requests will be processed in the order they are received.

‼The NMC now has a backlog of more than 19,000 applications, and that number is still growing. At this time, processing may take 8 to 12 months from the date a complete application is received.

To help avoid delays that could affect your work, mariners are strongly encouraged to apply 8 to 12 months before their credential expires. After applying, please allow extra time for your application to be entered into the system before checking your status online or contacting the NMC. 

All extension policies and other temporary measures announced in CORRECTED Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #3: Mitigation Efforts – Extensions on April 22, 2026, are still in effect until their listed expiration dates. Mariners should review that update for full details.

April 22, 2026 Update

This update supersedes the information in Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #2:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions dated March 19, 2026.

The National Maritime Center’s civilian staff has returned to work, despite the ongoing lapse in funding for DHS and the U.S. Coast Guard. As a result, the NMC has resumed reviewing and approving captain’s license applications. Per the March 26 update, medical certificates will also continue moving through the approval process.

MMCs with national endorsements only, along with medical certificates covering national endorsements and pilot expiration dates only, that expire between January 1 and May 31, 2026, will remain valid through August 31, 2026. Mariners actively working under expired credentials that meet these criteria must carry both the expired credential and a copy of the attached letter while sailing under that authority. The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs or medical certificates to reflect this extension.

In addition, information letters, approval-to-test letters, mariner training course completion certificates, and drug test letters that expire between February and May 2026 are also extended through August 31, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated letters reflecting these extensions. 

April 17, 2026, Update

This update supersedes the information in Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #2:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions dated March 19, 2026.

Because of the government shutdown, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are still closed.

The Application Submission and Payment System (ASAP) is still available for submitting applications and supporting documents. If your application is complete, you should still submit it. This will help secure your place in line so it can be processed once the government reopens and the NMC resumes operations.

Merchant mariner credentials (National endorsements only) and medical certificates (National and Pilot expiration dates only) that expire between January 1 and May 31, 2026, remain valid until August 31, 2026.

If you are actively working under a credential that has expired but qualifies for this extension, you must carry:

• Your expired credential, and
• A copy of the official extension letter

The NMC will not issue replacement MMCs or medical certificates showing the extended expiration date.

In addition, additional information letters, approval to test letters, mariner training course completion certificates, and drug test letters that expire between February 2026 and May 2026 are also extended until August 31, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated letters showing this extension.

March 26, 2026, Update

The National Maritime Center (NMC) will begin issuing medical certificates electronically via e-mail effective Wednesday, April 1, 2026. 

Certificates must be signed to be valid.  It is also recommended that mariners print and maintain a signed certificate for their use. 

Read more about what this means to you here.

March 24, 2026, Update

The National Maritime Center (NMC) has resolved the technical difficulties affecting the Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP). The portal is now available, and mariners may resume submitting applications and documents.

March 23, 2026, Update

As of March 23, 2026, when a captain's license applicant attempts to access ASAP, they may encounter this error message: 

The National Maritime Center is aware of this issue, but due to the government shutdown, they do not have an updated status of when it will be fixed. Currently, they can only advise holding onto all documentation until the portal is back up, then sending it in once the portal is fixed. 

What students should do:

• Hold onto all application documents until the portal is back online
• Check the ASAP portal once per day for access
• Submit documents as soon as the portal becomes available again to avoid further delays
• Contact the National Maritime Center directly with questions about portal status or submission issues

Important: The ASAP portal is managed by the U.S. Coast Guard, so Mariners Learning System is not able to restore access or provide an estimated resolution time.

March 19, 2026, Update

The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) remain closed due to the lapse in federal appropriations. This means:

• No in-person exams

• No appointments

• No application processing

Below is important guidance for captains and mariners affected by this shutdown.

Can I still submit my captain's license application? 

✅ Yes! If you are ready to submit your captain's license application, we strongly recommend submitting it now. Do not wait for the government to reopen.

• You may continue to submit applications and supporting documentation through the NMC Application Submission and Additional Information Portal (ASAP)

• Processing will resume once appropriations are restored

When will my application packet be processed? 

Applications will be held during the shutdown. Once funding is fully restored, the NMC will resume processing all pending applications.

How does this impact my Course Completion Certificate? 

Additional information letters, approval to test letters, and mariner training course completion certificates that expire between February and April 2026 are extended until June 30, 2026. The NMC will not issue updated letters reflecting the extension.

How does this impact my current captain's license that expires in October 2025? 

Merchant Mariner Credentials (National Endorsements only) and Medical Certificates (National and Pilot expiration dates only) that expire between January 1 and April 30, 2026, remain valid until June 30, 2026. 

Mariners actively working on expired credentials that meet this criteria must carry:

1. Their expired credential, and

2. A copy of the official Coast Guard Update #2 Extension Letter (download link below)

Can I get a replacement MMC or Medical Certificate during the shutdown? 

No. The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs or Medical Certificates reflecting the extension.

Can I still contact the National Maritime Center during this time?

Their Customer Service Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. You can contact them via the NMC online chat system, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662). 

Where can I read all the announcements and stay up to date?

To read the full National Maritime Center announcements, click on the following links: 

• February 2, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown
• February 17, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown
• February 20, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #1:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions
• March 19, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #2:  Mitigation Efforts – Extensions 
• March 26, 2026: Upcoming Launch: E-mail Delivery of Medical Certificates
• April 17, 2026: Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #3: Mitigation Efforts – Extensions
• April 22, 2026: CORRECTED Lapse in Appropriations and Government Shutdown UPDATE #3: Mitigation Efforts – Extensions
• May 4, 2026: Resumption of Services at the National Maritime Center and Regional Examination Centers

You can keep up-to-date on future announcements by going to the National Maritime Center's homepage and scrolling down to its announcements section.